Austermayer Fox, K. (2021). Women’s experiences of reclaiming and living the fierce feminine: An intuitive inquiry [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Alef Trust & Middlesex University.

This intuitive inquiry explored the lived experience of the Fierce Feminine in the lives of women. Drawing on both intellect and intuition, this study aimed to answer the following questions: 1) What does it take to reclaim the Fierce Feminine? 2) What is the nature of the Fierce Feminine? 3) What are the effects and consequences of living the Fierce Feminine today? The six semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis as outlined by Anderson (2004). The findings indicate that the journey to reclaim the Fierce Feminine requires a descent into the underworld to meet the Dark Goddess within and shed the layers of the upper world, good-girl persona which nearly all women adopt as a means to make it in a man’s world. The Fierce Feminine expresses itself in the embodiment of four distinct archetypes: a) the seer, b) the warrioress, c) the sexual priestess and d) the mystic. The consequences of living the Fierce Feminine entail both blessings and challenges. The blessings include genuine self-love, creative flow, power and a sense of aliveness and fulfillment; for the world, the potential of transformation. The challenges include the loss of belonging and social approval, depression and loneliness.